Bun warmer



April 28, 1953 A. M. LEWIS BUN WARMER Filed April 7, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l mfl un l Illu f5 50 o 0// o o I". O `V5a 50 T19-, 5,147 /o o o o /47 l ss l A l l f f l 53 o o o o o L '9 INVENTOR.

A. M. LEWIS April 28, 1953 BUN WARMER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1951 INVENTOR. Maf/YT M. E WIS April 28, 1953 A. M. Lr-:wls 2,636,969

BUN WARMER Filed April 7, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l o Axss x lh nz! 39 l l Qing /7 5 JNVENTOR.

#(6697 M. LEWIS BY ,4v-Tonia( Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUN WARMER Albert M. Lewis, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

Application April 7, 1951, Serial N o. 219,836

7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a bun warmer adapted for use in Warming and refreshening buns. The invention lends itself particularly for use in sandwich shops in which places it is customary to serve the sandwich on a warm bun.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bun warmer which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact, easily operated and highly efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bun warmer having a heating element adapted for converting water rapidly into steam and also provided with an injection mechanism for injecting a predetermined amount of water into the heating reservoir.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism whereby the injection mechanism may be controlled and its operativeness determined.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a bun warmer for a means of delivering the water into the heating reservoir in an atomized condition.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention and it is intended that the present disclosure shall be considered but the preferred embodiment.

Forming a part of this application are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention with parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a front elevational View of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a slight modication.

As shown in the drawings, I use a lower section comprising a box-like structure l1 having its upper end closed by a plate i8. Secured to the plate I8, and underlying the same, is a housing I9 in which is positioned an electrical heating element 20, the screws 2l serving to retain the housing I9 in position. This housing I9 is positioned in a chamber 24 which may be termed a water heating chamber or reservoir. This chamber 24 is formed in the plate 23 which is secured to the under surface of the plate i8 by means of the screws 25. Formed in this plate i8 in spaced apart relation are the openings 22, these openings communicating with the heating chamber or reservoir 24. (See Fig. l and Fig. 2.) A pipe 26 extends into this heating chamber or reservoir 24 and is provided, at the portion lying within Ythe chamber, with spaced apart openings i9, the end of this pipe being closed by a suitable plug 8c. This pipe 2E is secured, by means of the fitting 2l, in communication with the pipe 23, which communicates with the bottom of the cylinder i9. This cylinder 29 is positioned in a water receiving tank 3o and the cylinder 29 communicates at its bottom through a check valve 3i with the interior of the tank 3B. Slidable in the cylinder 2E is a piston 32, having a piston rod 33 which projects upwardly therefrom and on which is mounted the pin 34, bearing against one end of which is a coil spring 35 and the other end bearing against the top of the cylinder 29. This spring 35 normally retains the piston 32 elevated in the cylinder 29 and the construction is such that upon downward pressure on the rod 33 the piston 32 will force a predetermined amount of Water throug the pipes 28 and 26 to discharge the saine through the openings l'9 into the heating chamber or reservoir 24. As the piston 32 moves upwardly in response to the pressure of the spring 35 water again will be drawn in the cylinder 29 through the check valve 3l.

By means of the fitting 3e the pipe 3l is secured, as shown in Fig. 2, in communication with the interior of the tank 3G and this pipe 3i is connected by the tting 38 with the pipe 39, which is connected to a suitable source of water under pressure, such as the city supply. A float operated check valve i6 is operated by the iioat di to control the delivery of liquid into the tank 36, so that the normal level 42 of liquid in the tank Will be sufficiently high to assure the entry of liquid into the cylinder 29. This lower section is supported by the feet i3 which are secured thereto.

A box-like cover d4 is hingedly mounted at 135' on the lower section ll so that it may be swung upwardly at its forward end relatively to this lower section. (See Fig. 3.) Projecting upwardly at the front and rear of this upper section are guide posts It which extend through openings 46 formed in a presser plate 4l. A spring 48 is connected at its upper end to the plate 47 and at its lower end to a flange 4S, which is carried by the cover and which has the upwardly turned portion 5t to serve as an abutment against which the plate il may engage. A spring 53 is connected at one end to the presser plate il and at its opposite end to a ange 'l carried by the cover ll. It is thus seen that the plates 4'! and I8 are in spaced apart relation and that there is thus provided a chamber 3l between these 5 plates. The construction is such that steam forming in the heating chamber or reservoir 2d will pass through the ne openings 22 into this chamber 8l and serve to heat or warm buns which may be positionedltherein. Mounted Lonthe rupe 10 per surface of' the platei and extending around the same is an angle iron 54 which serves as a frame to properly locate the buns positioned vvitli-O in the frame. When the buns are positioned.in

the frame the cover is lowered and the plate' li''" 15" will bear against these buns unless' ttyyareol' less thickness than the height of the member 5B. This member 5B will be made orsuchheightfthat ordinarily when the bun is placed in position and. the cover lowered the bun will be under slight 20 pressure between plates., Il? and I8..

Slidable between theguideplatesptzandi 83, carried by the coverin' spacedgaparti'elation; ,isf aguard plate 5t" which. is provided atqone' end with aiange 575.('See Fig;.Tand'Fig. 31)) centthis end there is an opening Slforined .therein. The. opposite end of the plate 5t Iis provided. with the angularly directed'tongu'e 59.' carrying at" its' endlthe knob 60 (See Fig. 5).- which extends into the hollow. handle 55'1nounted-cnthe 3o `forward'e'nd ofthe' cover.. This guardiplate 55' is adapted `to.overli'ethefpiston rod. 33'.V A springv Siis attachedat oneendto thetongue og'andlat theY opposite end" to'; a bracket. 62 carriedby. the cover, so thai'k'the4 plate' 5B' isnorm'ally held.- in. 35 position with the opening Bllregistering withthe piston. rod' 33. (See. Fig. 2'.) When. the.A plate 56-.is inthe normal position ofslidablefrnovement in responseto the. tension.. ofthe spring- 6l. so..

that` theA opening tlliregisters. with thepiston rodi. 40

33', a.. loweringof the coverAA into.. closing 4position willnot. affect., the piston, rodi. This would. be the .normalposition .when theapparatus-isnct in. use, When.. theapparatustisiin. use andrbnns have been. placed.v on the.;n plates l-the-A operator,V .45 upon .lowering the.co.ver. wouldu withthe thumb or ringer pressing' against'. the. member slide; theplate.. into the -positionshown:in.FigVV lso that: the opening liiwould'b'e out-of.registrationwith. the piston rod '33. fore, to fully closed position would bring the member Shinto engagementtwith the. end ofiI the., piston rod Stand'force thepistonaizdownwardly a predetermined distance toeject throughthe. pipe 26 a .predetermined amount oilwater. This. 55 water. would, cn. account of the temperature. maintained in the heating reservoiivor chamA ber 24, be instantly-turned'into steamandpassed through the openings 22.1,. thus warming; and. moisteningor re'lreshening-` the bunswhich. may- 60 be. positioned between the plates- I8; and Atl.

The electric wires S3 and "613i are adaptedto'bev connected to a source of electrical energy by; meansof the socket plug S5.:y The wire'lfconnects through a thermostat E56-and, the-'wire'y 6l 65 toria terminal IS8 of a switchcontainedzwithinitheswitch housingv 'il' and operated byrthelswtch toggle '18. (Seef Fig. 3.) Upon a closing of. the switch thev termina-l S. would be in connection with the terminal .'69, which is-connected .by the 70 wire l' to. one ofthe. terminals 'H oi the electrical heating. element 2t.. The., other terminalY 'l2 ofthe heating elementis connected by. the wire 'i3 through the switch terminals. lll. tothe.. wires` 63. The expansible portions.16. o the A'dia- 2s.

A lowering of the cover; there- 50.

thermostat are in close proximity to the plate 23 in which the heating chamber or reservoir 24 is formed, so that this thermostat is responsive to the temperature of the heating chamber or reservoir 2d. Connected into the circuit to the switch housing 7'! is a light bulb 75 to indicate when the heating element is on.

Experience has shown that with a bun warmer of this type the buns may be placed in position and'thecoverlowered and the'water ejected and itisvpossibie to almost instantly raisev the cover and find the buns properly heated and steamed.

By use of the guard plate it also becomes possible to place buns between the plates it and It? to prematurely warm them without causing anysteamingof thevsame. This is accomplished by loweringthe cover llt while the opening t@ of the-Aguardplatei is in registration with the rodt-l. The electric heating element 2t will, or'

course, serve to keep the .plate lli hot.

In. Fig. I havevshown a slightrnodiricaticn in. which. an air. pipe 35 communieatesA through which is normally heldin. position. by the springv 3S' to. maintain the valve. llt closed. As soon as theplunger t? moves into valve closing position air will be permitted to, minglev with the liquid passing outwardly through thepipe idso that the. water is atoinized. Experience has shownv that-theuseof the air. for. atornheingl will elilectv a slightly quicker generating of. the steam in.

the. heatingv chamber. or reservoir.

It isintended that the abutment odshall be of suchaheight thatwith the .conventional type. of bun or roll the presser plate il will notconu tact this abutment but.. will press against the bun .or roll .placedon the plate E3. These buns or. rollswill, of. course, overlie, .and thus serve as ay closureior, the endsof the openingsflso that the steamfgenerated, in. theheating. chainber or reservoir 2t `will-develop considerable prese sure. This will, of courseraise the temperature of the steam and increase its eiiiciency for heat-f ing purposes, so thatthe steamused for heating purposes is of a super-heated nature. encehas shown that thesteam generated in the heating reservoir or chamber 24 passing through the openings Z2 will breal through the,crust'of the hun or roll and penetrate' the saine, thusV heating the interior as well the exterior.

In addition to heating or reireshening bakedproducts the device may alsoY beusedior'heating other products such as frankfurt-ters.

Ifdesired, articlesto beesterilizedrnayfbe laid upon the plate i8 and when the-cover is `lowered and the steam passes into. the article'contahiing chamber 8l a sterilization of the article will be easily and quickly effected.

What claim is:

l. Inabun warmer of the class described a bun supporting plate having a plurality o spaced apart openings formed therethrough; a swing(` able cover swingable into covering positionrelatively to said plate in spacedv relation thereto; and a movable presser plate positioned within and carried by said cover and engageable with- This The cylinder Etuis adaptedA Experia bun positioned on said plate for pressing the same thereagainst; and springs on said presser plate normally moving the same into pressing position; and abutment members carried by said cover for limiting the movement of said presser' plate toward pressing position.

2. In a bun warmer of the class described a housing embodying a lower box-like section; a cover plate mounted on said box-like section for closing the upper end thereof, a plate secured to said cover plate and positioned below the same and having a heating chamber therein, said cover plate having a plurality of openings formed therethrough; a heating element for heating said chamber; a delivery pipe extending into said chamber for delivering water thereinto; a movable plunger adapted for moving in one direction for forcing a predetermined amount of water through said pipe; a rod connected to said plunger; a cover swingably mounted on said lower section and swingable to covering and uncovering position; and a spring normally urging said rod upwardly into the path of said cover; the closing of said cover effecting a movement of said plunger in said direction a predetermined distance; and a guard plate carried by said cover and having an opening formed therethrough and movable for registering with said rod, said rod, upon the closing of said cover, being projectable through said opening.

3. In a bun warmer of the class described a housing embodying a lower box-like section; a cover plate mounted on said box-like section for closing the upper end thereof; a plate secured to said cover plate and positioned below the same and having a heating chamber therein, said cover plate having a plurality of openings formed therethrough; a heating element for heating said chamber; a delivery pipe extending into said chamber for delivering water thereinto; a movable plunger adapted for moving in one direction for forcing a predetermined amount of water through said pipe; a rod connected to said plunger; a cover swingably mounted on said lower section and swingable to covering and uncovering position; and a spring normally urging said rod upwardly into the path of said cover, the closing of said cover eiecting a movement of said plunger in said direction a predetermined distance; and a guard plate carried by said cover and having an opening formed therethrough and movable for registering with said rod, said rod, upon the closing of said cover, being proiectable through said opening; and a spring connected to said guard plate, normally moving said guard plate into position for registering said opening with said rod.

4. A bun Warmer of the class described comprising a lower box-like section open at its upper end; a plate mounted on the upper end of said section and serving as a closure therefor and having a plurality of openings formed therethrough; a plate mounted on the lower side of said cover plate and having a heating chamber formed in its upper face; a heating element for heating said heating chamber; a delivery pipe extending into said chamber for delivering water thereinto; a Water receiving tank; a cylinder in said tank adapted for reception of Water therefrom; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod on said piston projecting upwardly therefrom; a conduit for connecting said cylinder to said pipe in such a manner that the movement of said piston in said cylinder in one direction will force a predetermined amount of water through said pipe; a cover swingably mounted on said lower section and swingable into covering and uncovering position; a slidable guard plate on said cover and having an opening therethrough and overlying the upper end of said rod; a spring for normally maintaining said guard plate moved into position for retaining said opening in registration with said rod, said rod, upon the moving of said cover to covering position, projecting through said opening.

5. A bun warmer of the class described comprising a lower box-like section open at its upper end; a plate mounted on the upper end of said section and serving as a closure therefor and having a plurality of openings formed therethrough; a plate mounted on the lower side of said cover plate and having a heating chamber formed in its upper face; a heating element for heating said heating chamber; a delivery pipe extending into said chamber for delivering water thereinto; a water receiving tardi; a cylinder in said tank adapted for reception of Water therefrom; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod on said piston projecting upwardly therefrom; a conduit for connecting said cylinder to said pipe in such a manner that the movement of said piston in said cylinder in one direction will force a predetermined amount of water through said pipe; a cover swingably mounted on said lower section and swingable into covering and uncovering position; a slidable guard plate on said cover and having an opening therethrough and overlying the upper end of said rod; a spring for normally maintaining said guard plate moved into position for retaining said opening in registration with said rod, said rod, upon the moving of said cover to covering position, projecting through said opening, said guard plate being movable manually into position for moving said opening out of registration with said rod, and said guard plate, upon movement to said nonregistering position, upon the movement of said cover to covering position engaging said rod and moving said piston to force a predetermined amount of liquid out of said cylinder through said pipe.

6. A bun warmer of the class described comprising a lower box-like section open at its upper end; a plate mounted on the upper end of said section and serving as a closure therefor and having a plurality of openings formed therethrough; a plate mounted on the lower side of said cover plate and having a heating chamber formed in its upper face; a heating element for heating said heating chamber; a delivery pipe extending into said chamber for delivering water thereinto; a Water receiving tank; a cylinder in said tank adapted for reception of water therefrom; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod on said piston projecting upwardly therefrom; a conduit for connecting said cylinder to said pipe in such a manner that the movement of said piston in said cylinder in one direction will force a predetermined amount of water through said pipe; a cover swingably mounted on said lower section and swingable into covering and uncovering position; a slidable guard plate on said cover and having an opening therethrough and overlying the upper end of said rod; a spring for normally maintaining said guard plate moved into position for retaining said opening in registration with said rod, said rod, upon the moving of said cover to covering position, projecting through said opening, said guard plate being movable manually into position for moving saidopening youtrof`registrationfwith said rod, and said guard plate, upon movement Ito :said nonregistering position, upon rth'e .movement :of said eoverto 'covering'.position engaging .said rod and moving said piston to lforee 'a predetermined amount Yoi liquid lout .of said cylinder through sai'd'pipe; a conduit for delivering air under pressure and communicable with said pipe; avalve for 'controlling communication tof :said air conduit with said pipe.; :and means operable, upon movement of said cover `to -'covering position, for opening valve to vpermit a jet of .air to pass through said'pipe simultaneously with the water delivered thereto.

7. 4 hun warmer of .the r'class described comprising a lower boX-.likefseetion open at its 'upper end; a plate 'mounted on the "upper end of said section serving :as a closure therefor and having a piuralitgT `of openings formed .therethrough'; a .plate mounted on `the .lower Side 'of said pipe in such a ima-nner that the movement of said `piston in said cylinder in .one Vdirection Wiil forse a predetermined amount of Water through said pipe; a cover .swingably mounted on said lower section and swingahle into covering and uncovering position; a slidahle guard plate on said cover .and having an opening therethrough-and overlying the upper end of saidrod; a spring for normally .maintaining said guard said pipe; a conduit for delivering air under ,pressure vand communicable with said pipe; a valve for controlling communication .of said air conduit with said pipe; and means operable, upon movement `of Vsaid cover to covering position, for opening said valve to permit a jet of air to pass through said pipe simultaneously With the water delivered thereto; and oat operatedmeans for maintaining a predetermined liouidlevel in said tank.

ALBERT .M .liEWI-S.

References Cited 'in the .ie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,318,246 Underwood Oct. 7, .1919 1,585,293 Fitzer Apr. 1.3, 1926 1,687,521 Stall-Worth Oct. 16, 1928 2,192,342 Walder Dec. .14, 19,37 Y214222326 Tri/comi et al. Feb. 22, 1938 2,119,559 SmithY Mar. 8, 1938 2,137,875 Hudson Nov. 22, .19.38 2,230,433 Gough Feb. 4, 1941 2,244,145 `Erickson June 3, :1941 2,469,778 Moi-ici May 10,1949 2,532,04 Davis Nov. 28, 195D 

